Equal Pay Day 2026 welcomes Angela Chicu, President of BPW Moldova
Equal Pay Day 2026 at the Clarion Congress Prague proudly welcomes Angela Chicu, President and founder of Business and Professional Women Moldova, as part of the Moldovan delegation and valued network partner.
Angela has spent more than twenty years building programs that support women entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders. Since founding BPW Moldova in 1998, she has led the organization in developing women’s professional and leadership potential, strengthening the business environment, and representing members’ interests with government institutions and international partners.
Angela remarks:
“In 2025, the gender pay gap in Moldova reached a record high of 16.6%, with women earning 83 bani for every leu earned by a man. To match men’s earnings in 2025, Moldovan women had to work an additional 41 days. This is a significant increase compared to previous years, highlighting a deepening crisis in workforce equity.Key details on the gender pay gap in Moldova in 2025:
Overall annual gap: Women lose on average about 34,500 MDL (about €1,765) annually compared to men.
Record high: The 16.6% gap is the largest in a decade, reversing a period of relative stagnation seen between 2020 and 2023.
Impact: The gap is largely driven by women taking lower-paying or part-time jobs to balance work and family life, as well as occupational segregation.Officially, Equal Pay Day marks on 3rd of March in Moldova.”
Her mission is clear: create opportunities for women to grow, lead, and contribute to Moldova’s economic development.
“Moldova has made significant strides in digital access, with over 80% of the population using the internet in 2023 . This growing connectivity opens new opportunities for women to access resources, training, and markets. At the same time, women continue to shape the business landscape: about 34% of small and medium‑sized enterprises in Moldova are run by women , reflecting both progress and the need for continued support.”
Ludmila Caraman: Advancing Women’s leadership and economic equality in Moldova
As Program Coordinator at Business and Professional Women Moldova, Ludmila Caraman plays a vital role in strengthening women’s economic participation and leadership across the country. Her work supports women in business, entrepreneurship, and professional growth – areas that remain essential for Moldova’s progress toward gender equality.
For Equal Pay Day 2026, Ludmila joins the event as an Empower Day mentor, guiding participants through the theme:
“Empowering women to lead, advance careers, and excel in entrepreneurship for gender equality and systemic change.”
On Friday, March 27, 2026, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Ludmila Caraman at her mentoring table and explore strategies to strengthen their careers, expand their ventures, and contribute to a more equitable future. Her sessions are known for being warm, encouraging, and deeply human. Women feel seen, heard, and supported – a quality that makes her mentoring table a place where confidence grows and new possibilities open.
The participants are warmly invited to register for mentoring tables via Happenee app to be eligible to attend the dynamic workshops and mentoring sessions prepared. Be informed that to maintain the quality of the event, spaces are limited.
